Wire-clamp.



yE. M. CRAIG.

WIRE CLAMP.

APPLICATION-FILED SEPT-7.1M?.

'g Patented De@ 11,1917.A

. dicated at 5 and 6, respectively; the formerlv proceeds,

EDGAR M. CRAIG, OF MARTINSIBURG, IOWA.

' WIRE-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

Application filed September 7,'1917. Serial No. 190,195.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR M. CRAIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Martinsburg, in the county of Keokuk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire clamps, and particularly to 'clamps for use in holding and stretchin woven wire fences, having for its primary o ject to generally simplify and improve the construction and operation of such devices, as well as to increase the eiliciency of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'a clamp for use in the stretching operations of woven wire fabrics which may be quickly'and easily applied to the fence.y

fabric, or removed therefrom, and which holds the fabric firmly when once applied thereto.

Still further objects reside in providing a clamp of the character set forth which shall be of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, which is composed of but few simple and readily assembled parts, all of which are so constructed and assembled as to minimize the opportunity for wear or breakage, which is capable of being manipulated by vone man, and which will prove thoroughly eilicient and practical in use.

With these objects in view together with others which will appear as the description the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a constructed in accordance with tion. l Y

F ig'. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and illustrating the reverse side of the clamp,

Fig. 3 is: a sectional view taken substanmagy-,upon line 3-3 of"Fig. 1, and.`

wire clampl the invenig. 4 is a view taken upon Aline 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lockbolt and head.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a pair of clamp bars,'the same bein in the present instance of equal length, width and thickness, and these bars may be formed of any desired material. These bars are inylaterally to Rotatably mounted in spaced parallel relation throughout the length of the 4bar 5 are locking bolts 7. These bolts extend transversely through the bar 5, and protrude an appreciable distance beyondl the side thereof, the exposed portions of thesald lock bolts being of increased diameter, as

sliding movement shown, to limit the inward of the said bolts. The opposite ends of the bolts are each equipped with a crank-arm 8. the said arms being irmly secured and held upon the bolts by the retaining nuts 9. The outer extremities of the crank-arms 8 are pivotally connected with a rod 1-0, so that longitudinal movement of the rod will cause all of the lock bolts to rotate in unison.

Arranged upon the outer surface of the. bar 5 and at one end thereof isa longitudinally disposed rack-bar 1,1, over which a clevis 12 slides. This clevis hasl pivoted thereto a lever 13, one end of which is bent provide a. pin 14 engaged with one end of a said link being pivotally connected with the longitudinally disposed bolt-operating rod 10. The clevis 12 is capable of beinof freely slid over the rack-bar 11, but will Iie held by the teeth of the rack-bar against reverse Sliding movement. When it is desired to ro link 15, the opposite end of the each of the lock bolts 7 are of a diameter sufficient to accommodate the enlarged ends of the locking bolts 7, and thev outer surface of the bar 6 is rovided with a number of metallic plates li), one of which is arranged over each of the openings 16. The central portion of each plate is depressed, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the said depressed portions extending into the openings 16, and the metal constituting pressed portion is provided with an elongated opening 18. These openin s are adapted to receive .the laterally dlsposed heads 19 upon the outer ends of the lock the bottom of each debolts' 7, the saidheads being of a length and wie Width substantially equal to the length and width of the said openings. shown in the drawing, the openings 18 el the various plates l'are disposed longitudinally off the bar 6 and it is obvious, therefore, that the heads 19 of the locking bolts can only enter into these openings When the said 1neads are disposed longitudinally oic their supporting bar 5.

l`he opposing edges of the heads 19 at the opposite ends thereof, may be beveled or out away as indicated at 19 so as to ride upon the inclined edges oiE the metal deinng the opening,- 18 in its plate 17. 'll he inclined edges of the said plate are indicated at 18, and it is obvious that such arrangement perinit-s oi the ready manipulation of the saine and obviates the possibility of binding of the head 19 Within the opening.

ln applying the clamp to a fence fabric, the bars 5 and G are separated, and are placed one upon each side of the fabric. illhe bolts at their enlarged ends project through the .mesh fabric, and the lever 13 is operated so that the heads ends oli the said lock bolts are disposed longitudinally. ll hen in this position, the said heads will enter the elongated openings 18 in the depressed portions of the plates 17 of the bars S, and after being so inserted. iny said openings, the lever 1B is swung inwardly upon the bar 5. rlhis action of the lever causes the rod 10 to move longitudinally of the bar 5, whereupon the crankarins 8 cause the loclobolts 7 to rotate so that the heads 19 at the outerenos hereof will be disposed laterally of lill/'hen so disposed, the said bars will be rrnly locked together, and can only become detached when, the rod 10 has been moved in l 'a reverse direction,

To assist in holding the bars 5 and 6 together, and to enable the clamp to be attached to a stretching apparatus, one of the bars has hinged at its opposite ends loops 20, These loops are hinged in the present instance to the bars 6, as indicated at 21, and are of dimensions sutiicient to enable the said loops to be swung' over and to inclose the adjacent end of the opposing bar 5. Each ot these loops is provided with a hooi; 22, to which a suitable draft or stretehing; apparatus may be secured,

vFreni the "foregoing it is obvious that l.

plurality of laterally the bar o.

have provided an extremely simple and thon ouglily eliicient clamp for holdingtence B L i Aes durinr the stretthinggA operationo l er the bars have been properly positioned upon the opposing` surfaces ofthe Wire and the lever 13 has been properly operated, the

bars will be securely held against becoming separated, and the loops 20 at the ends of the bars assist in holdingl the latter securely together. s A

1ilfhile the present disclosure is that of what is believed to be the preierredernbodithe invention, it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to if desired Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined bythe appendedclaims.

ifi/*hat is claimed is:

1. 1n a Wire clamp, a pair of clamp bars, one of said bars having laterally disposed apertures, lock bolts extending' through the other el' said bars and being adapted to engage in said apertures, the said bolts being adapted when rotated to a certain degree to lock said bars together, a crank-arm on each bolt, a rod common to all of said arms, a rack nanfa Clovis adjustable upon said rack bar, a lever pivoted upon said clevis, and a rod connecting` said linlr and lever.

ln a Wire clamp, a pair of clamp bars, a disposed lock bolts on one oi' said bars, laterally extending heads on the outer ends of said bolts, the other ot said bars havingtransversely extending openings adapted to receive said bolts, the said openings being' restricted at one end and being' adapted to receive said heads only when said bolts have been rotated. to a certain degree, a'cranlr-arin on the inner end of each bolt, a rod 'connecting all of said arrns, a rack bar on said bolt carrying bar, a clevis adjustable on said -raclr bar, 'a lever pivoted on saidclevis, a'linlr connecting said lever and rod, and hook loops hinged to one ot said bars and being adapted to inclose the opposite bar. v

ln testimony WhereolE l affix iny signature in presence ot two witnesses,

l M. Clt-Alp.

itness es Jl. l/iL Moons, W Snai/nemen. 

